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"American Horror Story: Coven": A Witching Hour Worth Watching

It's the Season of the Witch on "American Horror Story: Coven" -- and these girls cast an intriguing spell.

The FX horror series returns for its third incarnation tonight, switching gears from the aliens and possessions of "Asylum" to voodoo, potions and Big Easy enchantment.

The third outing follows Zoe ("AHS" alum Taissa Farmiga), who is shipped to an all-girls school in New Orleans after her first sexual experience goes horribly awry. This isn't any ordinary school though -- it's a school for witches, run by Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), daughter of the coven's "Supreme" (Jessica Lange, in full-on bitch mode).

As fellow students, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe and Jamie Brewer all play off each other well -- and seeing them display their own unique powers promises an interesting dynamic ahead.

While some of the set up feels a little like "X-Men" to me (Zoe's introduction is an R-rated version of Rogue, while Cordelia and Fiona argue like Professor X and Magneto), it's still a fun set up -- one that plays more straightforward than the show's previous seasons.

It can't all be fun though. This is "American Horror Story" after all, and the premiere is heavy on the gore.

Kathy Bates joins the fold as a sadistic slave owner -- and the ways she amuses herself are sure to turn some stomachs. We're very curious to see where her storyline goes after the episode's cliffhanger of an ending.

The "Misery" star isn't the only awesome addition. New Orleans itself is one of the best things the show has going for it!

It's nice to get out of that stuffy nuthouse from Season 2 or the "Murder House" of Season 1 -- and seeing the stars visit real, haunted locations in The Big Easy is a very welcome development.

I'm already hooked and my only gripe is something I'm sure will be amended in future episodes: More Angela Bassett, please! I have a feeling her voodoo priestess character is going to be a real scene-stealer this season.